Which place is cheaper, Medellin or Tulum?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Tulum or Medellin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and Medellin can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Tulum or Medellin?
Tulum
When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.
Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.
This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.
Medellin
In addition to big improvements in public safety, Medellin has witnessed a huge surge in urban development projects, including Colombia's first metro system and cable cars to service poorer neighborhoods located high on the mountain sides. There is an abundance of parks, libraries, museums and public spaces with many cultural events taking place. Many travelers also enjoy visiting the surrounding villages, where life is simple and landscapes and nature reserves are wonderful. Medellin has now become one of the "it" cities in the world, with tons of tourists visiting and foreigners settling and retiring here. Beautiful mountains, warm weather, friendly locals, and a vibrant culture are just a few of the reasons why you should visit Medellin.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Historical Tours in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Tulum Prices
Mexico PricesMedellin Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTulum $141Medellin $31
The average daily cost (per person) in Tulum is $141, while the average daily cost in Medellin is $31. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tulum and Medellin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTulum $57Medellin $4.91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTulum $114Medellin $9.82
Compare Hotels in Tulum and Medellin
Looking for a hotel in Tulum or Medellin? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Tulum Hotel Prices and Medellin Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tulum $27Medellin $4.28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tulum
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tulum:
- Airport Transfer One Way - Cancun / Tulum - Private or Luxury: $119
- Departure Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport CUN by Minivan - Minibus: $155
- Economy Private Transfer from Tulum to Cancun Airport – Safe: $148
- One Way Private Transfer Tulum Zone - Cancun Int Airport: $170
- One Way Private Tulum Transfers to or from Cancun Airport: $180
- Private Luxury Transfer Tulum to Cancun Airport: $220
- Private Roundtrip Transfer from Tulum Airport to Tulum Hotels: $270
- Private Transfer Cancun International Airport CUN to Tulum City: $125
- Private Transfer From Tulum to Cancun With a 2 Hour Stop: $207
- Private Transfer Tulum to Mérida with Flexible Stops: $247
- Private Transfer from Tulum Airport to Playa del Carmen: $199
- Private Transfer from Tulum to Bacalar with Optional Stop: $93
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Medellin:
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Taxi$1.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Medellin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Medellin:
- Private Transfer VIP Airport Rionegro MDE to Medellin: $23
- Medellin Airport (EOH) to Medellin - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
- Medellín: José María Córdova Airport Private Transfer: $33
- Medellín: Private Airport Transfer: $35
- Medellín Airport Private Transfer Service (Departure): $35
- Private Medellin MDE airport pick up transfer service one way: $35
- Private Airport Transfer in Medellín: Arrival Service: $39
- Medellin to Medellin Airport (EOH) - Departure Private Transfer: $41
- Pereira to or from Salento Private Transfer: $42
- Private Medellín Hotel to Airport transfer service: $43
- Private airport transfers to Medellin: $43
- Guatapé Private Transfer: José María Córdova Airport: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Tulum or Medellin?
Prices for flights to both Medellin and Tulum change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayTulum $57Medellin $17
Typical Food Prices in Tulum
Some typical examples of dining costs in Tulum are as follows:
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Lunch$2.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tulum
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tulum.
- Salsa Class,Mezcalita Workshop & Mexican Dinner: $88
- Tulum Local Walking Food Tour: $93
- Tortilla & Taco Cooking Class – Mexican Cuisine from scratch: $94
- Temazcal Mayan Ritual Tour and Cenote Swim with Yucatecan Dinner: $149
- Private Authentic Mayan Cooking Class with Tulum Hotel Transfers: $280
- Private transfer for 5 hours (go dinner,cenotes, shopping and more): $299
Typical Food Prices in Medellin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Medellin:
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Lunch$2.17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Medellin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Medellin.
- Medellín: Comuna 13 True Story and Street Food Tour: $11
- Medellín: Empanada Cooking Class by Local Chef in Comuna 13: $19
- A night in Medellín: food tour and bars in El Poblado!: $32
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Street Art and Street Food Tour: $38
- Empanada Cooking Class by Local Chef in Comuna 13 (Small Groups): $39
- Food tour with 12 tastings in the best area of Medellin: $40
- Laureles Food Tour: $45
- Private Empanada Cooking Class in Guatape: $45
- 4hr Cooking Class in Medellín with Traditional Recipes and Drinks: $55
- Street Food Tour in Medellín with Tastings: $55
- Medellín: Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings (El Poblado): $56
- Cooking Class Preparing Colombian Empanadas: $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tulum $30Medellin $13
Tours and Activities in Tulum
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tulum are as follows:
- Tulum Mayan Ruins GPS Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Return Home: $11
- Self Guided Audio Walking Tour of Tulum: $15
- Cenotes Casa Tortuga Admission Ticket: $15
- ATV Cenote and Ziplines Adventure in Tulum from Riviera Maya: $25
- Adrenaline Tulúm Tour: ATV, Zipline, and Cenote Adventure: $30
- 4 Sacred Cenotes Adventure with Rappel and Mayan Ceremony: $30
- Tulum Taco Tour: $35
- Tulum Extreme Mayan Adventure with ATV, Zipline and Cenote: $38
- Guided Day Tour to Chichén Itzá, Cenote Swim and Valladolid: $38
- Tulum Area Experiences E-Bike Daily Rental: $45
- Tulum Area Experiences Scooter Daily Rental: $45
Tours and Activities in Medellin
Here are a few actual costs in Medellin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Tour with Snacks and a Local Guide: $9.75
- Medellín: Comuna 13 and Graffiti Walking Tour with Snacks: $10
- Medellín: Explore Downtown And Live The Real City Experience: $11
- Medellin Historic Walking Tour: $11
- Entry Ticket to the Museum of Modern Art of Medellin: $11
- Medellín: Comuna 13 Tour Through Color, Snacks & History: $12
- Shared Tour Medellin's Violence & Post-conflict after Pablo: $12
- Shared Tour Poblado, Provenza & Manila Districts: $12
- Shared Tour of Medellin's Historic & Cultural Downtown: $12
- Medellín: Comuna 13 and Graffiti Guided Tour with a Local: $13
- Complete Tour in Comuna 13: Graffiti, History and Street Delights: $13
- Medellin Commune 13 Historic Tour With Snacks and Drinks: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTulum $24Medellin $7.46
Sample the Local Flavors in Medellin
Also in Medellin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl in El Poblado with Drinks, Games and VIP: $7.50
- Guided Medellin Pub Crawl: $18
- The "Beyond Local Pub Crawl" Now in Medellín!: $25
- Rooftop Bar Crawl with VIP Access & Hidden Clubs: $27
- Medellín Nightlife: Rooftop Bar Crawl: $85
- Medellin Private Bar Crawl: $145
- Night Out Gay Bar Crawl in Medellin: $150
- NightOUT Medellin Gay Bar Crawl: $150
- Medellin LGBTQ Rooftop Bar Crawl: $150
- Medellín Pub Crawl Tour with Drinks: $175
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tulum and Medellin, we can see that Tulum is more expensive. And not only is Medellin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tulum is in North America and Medellin is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Medellin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Medellin and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Tulum would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tulum than you might in Medellin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tulum Expensive? and Is Medellin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tulum or Medellin?
Medellin has a larger population, and is about 240 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and Medellin, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.